Father's Day forecast: Warmth to build across nation's midsection; Storms to jeopardize barbecues in Upper Midwest

Dry weather will prevail across most of the United States on Father's Day, but dangerous heat and thunderstorms could put a damper on outdoor activities for some.

"The name of the game for Father's Day across much of the nation will be a strong area of high pressure extending from Los Angeles east-northeast to Boston," AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson said.

Those potentially impacted by thunderstorms can use AccuWeather MinuteCast® to know when storms are expected to arrive in your area.

A storm is expected to push across south-central Canada during the weekend and could fire a round of thunderstorms across portions of the north-central United States.

"A warm, humid air mass in place along with a cold front pushing southward across the Upper Midwest on Father's Day could lead to the development of some robust thunderstorms," Adamson said.

Locations within the threat area include portions of South Dakota, Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the western tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This includes the cities of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota; and Houghton, Michigan.

Any storms that develop are likely to occur during the late afternoon and evening hours on Sunday. Dry weather should hold for any outdoor activities into the early afternoon.

The heaviest storms could produce some large hail, damaging winds and very heavy rainfall.

Highs will easily exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit across much of the southwestern United States with many locations challenging record highs.

"The core of the heat will be over the Southwest with temperatures rivaling records in places such as Phoenix, Arizona; Death Valley and Palm Springs, California; Las Vegas; and Albuquerque, New Mexico," Adamson said.

Those planning on outdoor barbecues should keep any grills or open flames under control as the extreme heat combined with the dry vegetation could quickly spark a fire.

Those hoping to beat the heat will want to head to the Southern California beaches where temperatures will be significantly lower.